About 94 million Americans over the age of 20 have borderline high cholesterol, and another 28 million have high cholesterol. At TRiiBE Medical LLC, the exceptional providers, including Uloma Ibe, MD, and Abimbola Hillard, CRNP, offer high cholesterol diagnosis, management, and treatment plans to help you get healthy. It’s easier than you think to manage your cholesterol and protect your health, so call the Upper Marlboro, Maryland office or book your appointment online today.
High cholesterol means that you have excessive amounts of a fat-like substance in your blood. You need cholesterol to produce vitamin D, hormones, and digestive substances, so your body produces its own.
Because your body makes all the cholesterol you need, any cholesterol from other sources, for example, egg yolks, cheese, and meat can accumulate in your blood.
Excessive cholesterol can stick to the walls in your blood vessels (atherosclerosis). This excess can eventually lead to serious health problems like coronary artery disease, stroke, and heart attack, which means that high cholesterol could be deadly unless you take steps to manage it.
Cholesterol testing requires a blood draw; you’ll need to fast before the test to get the most accurate results. Generally, your cholesterol test is a lipid profile that checks several things, including:
LDL is bad cholesterol. LDL accumulation causes plaque buildup in your arteries, so lower numbers are better for LDL.
HDL is good cholesterol. It helps you remove LDL from your body, so the higher, the better when it comes to HDL numbers.
Triglycerides, like cholesterol, are a type of lipid. When you have high triglycerides, it increases your risk of atherosclerosis and artery hardening.
The specific target numbers for each category can depend on several factors, including your health history, sex, genetics, and risk factors for heart disease.
Ultimately, the target number for total cholesterol (a combination of all the categories) is less than 200 mg/dL. 200-239 mg/dL is borderline high cholesterol, and 240 mg/dL or more is high cholesterol.
In many cases, you can reduce your blood cholesterol level with lifestyle changes. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help with not only your cholesterol level but also your blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes management.
TRiiBE Medical LLC can help with a heart-healthy diet, regular exercise, and weight management. However, if you still have high cholesterol even after healthy changes, you may need cholesterol-lowering medication as well.
High cholesterol doesn’t mean you’re sick, but it does mean that you need to take steps to protect your health now. TRiiBE Medical LLC is here to help with high cholesterol and chronic disease management, so call the office or schedule an appointment online today.